A FORMER US Air Force staff sergeant died of cancer after breathing in acid vapour fumes at Rylands, a coroner has ruled.

John Edward Hussey, aged 84, of Oak Road, Lymm, was born in Mississppi and served in the US Merchant Navy and Army before joining the Air Force, serving in the UK.

After leaving the air force he remained in Warrington with his family and went on to work at Rylands Whitecross from 1972 to 1987 in the dipping plant.

He died on November 3 last year and a post mortem examination revealed three tumours – one from his tongue to his larynx and two smaller tumours in his lungs.

Deputy assistant coroner Geoff Roberts heard on Tuesday how a study had deduced a three-fold increase in the risk of developing cancer of the larynx in workers exposed to acid vapour fumes.

Mr Hussey’s son Charles also told the inquest that his father had smoked 40 cigarettes a day for around 40 years, but had stopped overnight around five years ago.

His family contacted his GP in October concerned about his condition after he appeared malnourished and slurring his speech.

On October 26 he was admitted to Warrington Hospital and a chest x-ray picked up solid matter in his lungs and he appeared to have had a heart attack. On November 2 he suffered heart failure again and died the following day.

Mr Roberts said: “In the balance of probabilities exposure to acid steam vapour caused the cancer.”

He ruled that Mr Hussey died of industrial disease.